Journalism Degree in Lawton, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Lawton, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$36K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.4 yrs
in Lawton
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Lawton, OK Overview
While Lawton has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,675/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Journalism has been declining, graduates with skills in Reporting and Investigative Journalism remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Lawton is approximately $36,300.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$8,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,675/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,482/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
74%
Journalism Salary in Lawton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawton's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Lawton adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Lawton
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Lawton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Lawton avg aid: $11,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,425
vs HS diploma in Lawton
ROI Payback Period
11.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawton
$146,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($231,000) minus total education cost ($84,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Lawton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawton for Journalism
Lawton State University
public
$9,205/yr
$36,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lawton Community College
$4,912/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Lawton
Lawton offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawton Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$43K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$37K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Norman, OK
$38K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$40K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$42K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$39K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$40K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$38K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Lawton
Journalism Degree in Lawton — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Journalism ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lawton.